Roberta Writes: d’Verse Open Link #360 + Saturday live option & Thursday Doors #poetry #photography

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Thursday Doors

These are photographs of the door to the outside shower in our chalet at Ivory Tree Game Lodge. You can join in Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/04/11/alumni-doors/

Picture caption: Bath and outside shower including the door to the shower
Picture caption: A close up of the shower and door

d’Verse poetry prompt

The mini prompt d’Verse Open Link #360 + Saturday live option is green. You can find out more about it and the meeting today here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/04/11/open-link-360-saturday-live-option/

South Africa is in mid-autumn and our green is fast disappearing. My poem thus addresses the yellow of autumn with the remaining green. It is a double American cinquain (2/4/6/8/2 x 2)

Life cycle

Yellow

Autumn colour

Of African bushveld

Perfect camerflage for tawny

Lions

***

Cubs hide

Among green shrubs

Life’s blood of buffalo

Big predator’s favourite food

Cycle

As always, I am inspired by South Africa’s amazing wildlife. Here are some photographs of the animals on which this poem is based.

Picture caption: Lion cub (juvenile) among the yellow grasses
Picture caption: Lion clubs sparring. What a privilege it was to watch them.
Picture caption: Young lions have an abundance of energy
Picture caption: In case you were wondering about Mama Lion – here she is. A flat cat in the veld.
Picture caption: Cape buffalo grazing. “Do you like my smart mud coat?”
Picture caption: Cape Buff considering me and my camera
Picture caption: “Okay, I’ll pose. After all, I am a splendid fellow.”

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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128 thoughts on “Roberta Writes: d’Verse Open Link #360 + Saturday live option & Thursday Doors #poetry #photography”

  7. Wonderful poem, Robbie. Cubs hide among green shrubs is my favorite part. I could barely see them! The buffalo covered in mud is amazing.

    The lions remind me of a news story. I guess you’ve heard about the millions of people trying to enter the U. S. at the southern border with Mexico. A young guy was apprehended, and border guards discovered that he was carrying a baby lion in his backpack. He had carried the cub across the Sonora Desert in northern Mexico. People die from the heat there. Who knows where he got the cub. It had been drugged and was nearly dead when guards took it out of the back pack. They had to find a vet to treat it immediately. I remember the cub survived and found a home at a zoo. People try to smuggle exotic birds also. Do people steal lions and other animals? I guess that buffalo would be too big. He looks mean.

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    1. Buffalo are only mean if you disparage them. If you are respectful, they are calm and docile. We have huge problems with poaching here. The poachers often kill the animals for their body parts. It is very tragic. Rhinos are a big target and many parks now dehorn them to try and save them. So sad. I am so glad the lion cub lived. Poor little thing.

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  9. A wonderful post, Robbie! I especially love the photos. I always enjoy seeing lions, but those buffalo do have such personality! It made me look up what we have out west in the US–bison, rather than buffalo. They don’t have those wild horns, but they do have little beards. 🙂

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      1. I doubt that I’ll make it to Africa, Robbie, so I’m traveling vicariously through your posts and enjoying them very much. I’ve always been an animal lover, and to see these wild animals in their natural habitats is a thrill and privilege. I’m doing well too, so thank you, and I replied to your comment on my limerick post. Enjoy your weekend! 🤗

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  31. Great write, and such fascinating photos Robbie! It was nice meeting you yesterday. What a wonderful addition to our community you are! Your bringing your South African influence is such a treat for us. And what a fascinating and impressive background you have my friend. I have been in a number of online poetry communities over the past two-plus decades. To my knowledge, this is my first time to enjoy the pleasure of crossing paths with you. I had never missed an OLN Live until the past two months, owing to age-related health challenges — so it was nice attending again yesterday. What a wonderful surprise to encounter you. Welcome to our dVerse community. I hope you make your participation a regular thing. 🙂✌🏼

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    1. Hi Rob, thank you for your lovely and welcoming comment. It was my second d’Verse live meeting and I have enjoyed both very much. It is fabulous to interact with international poets. I previously belonged to a South African group of poets but that has been dissolved now. I hope your health challenges will improve with the warmer spring weather.

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  33. I love outdoor showers though they’re completely impractical here. That place looks like a great place to stay. And wonderful poem, Robbie. The photos that inspired them are amazing. I love the way the lions blend into the grass. And that is a rather handsome fellow to pose for you. 🙂

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  41. Their buff certainly blends. After looking at the buffalo, I have to wonder how many lions it takes to make their favorite dinner happen. That’s one tough-looking animal, but kind enough to pose ;) Nice to see you at dVerse, Robbie.

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          1. I can relate to that. I still remember a short stretch of mud in Amboseli that took us hours to negotiate… (I think I have posted that one already…)

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